Replaceable bearing elements for cap bars of drafting machines



June 4, 1957 J. o. DAYVAULT, SR

REPLACEABLE BEARING ELEMENTS FOR CAP BARS OF DRAFTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1952 INVENTOR: Ion-m ODAYvAuLT, SR.

ATTORNEYS eraa- United States Patent-C REPLACEABLE BEARING ELEMENT S FOR CAP BARS F DRAFTING MACHINES I 7 John 0. Dayvault, Sr., Kannapolis, N. C.

Application November 20, 1952, Serial No. 321,703 7 Claims. (Cl. 19-434) This invention relates to drafting machines such as spinning machines, twister'machines', roving machines and the like and more especially to a novel replaceable bearing element for reconditioning the usual cap bars in which the top rolls of such machines are rotatably supported.

As is well known, the top rolls of spinning frames, twister frames and the like rest upon corresponding bottom rolls and are maintained in proper alinement with the bottom rolls by means of cap bars having slots in the side edges thereof in which the reduced ends of the top rolls are rotatably supported, these slots defining projections or nebs on the cap bars which become worn by the reduced ends of the top rolls to such an extent that they have to be discarded and replaced from time to time.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide means for reconditioning worn cap bars including hearing elements each having a planar portion with downwardly extending ears thereon adapted to be inserted in the notches or slots on opposite Sides of a cap bar with the planar portion resting on the upper surface of the cap bar. Disposed opposite the ears are inwardly and downwardly curved resilient portions which engage the front end of the cap bar to thereby frictionally hold the bearing element in position. Thus, the tab portions or cars serve as bearing surfaces for the ends of the top rolls instead of the ends of the top rolls engaging the corresponding walls of the notches.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the endmost cap bars and caps of a spinning frame or the like showing the corresponding ends of the top rolls and a roll stand in association therewith and showing one form of the improved bearing element mounted on the front portion of the cap bar;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the intermediate cap bars and its associated cap bar tip showing the proximal ends of adjacent top rolls mounted therein and illustrating a second form of the improved bearing element on the cap bar tip;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Figure 1, except being opposite hand;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, mostly in elevation taken substantially along line 44 in Figure l; v

Figure 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the cap bar shown in the lower portion of Figure l disassociated from the rest of the machine and showing the improved bearing or element mounted on the front end thereof;

Figure 6 is an enlarged isometric view of the improved bearing element per se which is adapted to be constructed in order to be mounted on one of the endmost cap bar tips;

Figure 7 is an isometric view similar to Figure 5, but showing one of the intermediate cap bar tips with the M94215 Patented June 4, 1957 ice corresponding second form of improved bearing element mounted on the front end thereof;

H Figure 8 is an enlarged isometric view of the rear and top portions of the second formof improved bearing element per se.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and especially to Figures 1, 2 and 3, there is shown three adjacent portions of a conventional spinning frame having roll stands 10 in which there is adjustably mounted a cap bar rod 11 on which there are fixedly secured cap bars 12, 13 and 14 which are made in two pieces, namely, rear portions and front or tip portions, which are adjustable with relation to each other to determine their overall length. The cap bars 12 and 14 are identical except that one is positioned opposite the other. The rear portions of the cap bars have notches 15 therein in which rear top rolls 16 are rotatably mounted and the front or tip portions of the cap bars 12, 13 and 14 have notches 17 and 18 therein for the reception of the end bearing portions of intermediate and front top rolls 20 and 21. It is with the notches 18 that this invention is concerned as all of the other portions heretofore described are conventional. Since the front top roll runs at a much faster rate than the other top rolls, there is much more wear in the front Walls of notches 18 as indicated at 19 than the notches 15 and 17 and it is the purpose of this invention to take care of this wear in the front wall of the notches 18 by providing a detachable bearing clip or element fitting over one of the walls of the notches 18 to reduce their lateral dimensions. 1

In Figures 1 and 3, there are shown suitable clip members 25 and 25a which are identical except that one is opposite hand to the other, each having a fiat bearing leg 26 and a clip-shaped leg 27 which are adapted to fit over the projections 28 with the flat leg 26 occupying a position on the inside wall of the projection 28. These clips different form of bearing clip which is designated at 20- having flat bearing legs 31 and 32 which fit in the lowermost notches on each side of the front end of the cap bars 13 having a cut away portion between the legs 31 and 32 for receiving the central longitudinal portion of the front end of the cap bars 13. These bearing clips 30 have a top portion 33 and a spring clip portion 34 for fitting against the forward end of the forward sections of the clip bars 13 for confining the member 30 in position.

It is thus seen that I have provided improved bearing clips adapted to fit on the front ends of cap bar tips provided with bearing tab portions thereon which engage the inner surfaces of the projections defining the grooves in which the journal ends of the front top rolls are mounted to thereby lengthen the useful life of the cap bar tips practically indefinitely and facilitating the re-use of the cap bar tips which have heretofore been discarded due to wear on the front wall of the front notch in which the journalends of the front top rolls are rotatably mounted. It should also be noted that this clip may be installed without disassembling or even stopping the drafting machines.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although Specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a spinning frame and the like having cap bars secured at one end and free at the other end and provided with notches in their side edges in which the journal ends 056;; rolls are positioned for rotation and-said notches defining at least one, lateral projection at the free end of the cap bar, a removable self-supporting bearing clipv for the cap bar comprising asubstantially- Ll-shziped member of relatively thin resilient material and having first and.second legs wherein thefirst leg of the U-shaped member is fiat and the second leg is curved inwardly intermediate its ends toward the first leg whereby the first leg 013 the U-shaped member maybe positioned against the inner surface of the lateral projection and the second inwardly curved leg may be positioned against the outer surface of the lateral projection to clampingly support the. bearing clipin position, and both of said legs terminating in a common said lateralprojection.

2'. In a spinning machine or the like having a cap bar provided. with grooves inopposite side edges thereof in which adjacent journal ends of top rolls are positioned for rotation and the free end of said cap bar having a lateral projection on each side thereof defining the grooves adjacent the free end of said cap bar, a removable selfsupporting bearing element formed from sheet metal and including a planar portion having a pair of longitudinally spaced bearing tabs extending downwardly at one edge thereof and at substantially right angles to the planar portion and terminating adjacent the lower edge of said lateral projection, and a clamping portion extending downwardly from the other edge of the planar portion and being curved inwardly intermediate its ends toward said spaced bearing tabs whereby said spaced tabs may be positioned against the innersurfaces of said lateral projections and within the corresponding grooves and the clamping portions may resiliently engage the, outer surfaces of the lateral projections to clamp saidbearing element on the free end of the cap bar.

3. In a spinning machine or the like having a cap bar provided with grooves in opposite side edges thereof in which adjacent journal ends of top rolls are positioned for rotation and the free end of said cap bar having a lateral projection on each side thereof defining one wall of grooves adjacent the free endof said cap bar, a removable self-supporting bearing element formedrfrom, sheet metal and including a planar portion having a pair of longitudinally spaced tabs extending downwardly at one edge thereof and at substantially right angles to the planar portion and terminating adjacent the lower edges of said lateral projection, and a clamping portion extending downwardly from the other edge of the planar portion and being curved inwardly intermediate its ends toward said spaced tabs and having its lower end bent outwardly whereby said spaced tabs may be positioned against the inner surface of said lateral projection and within the corresponding grooves and the clamping portion may resiliently engage the outer surface of the lateral pro.- jection to clamp said bearing element on the free end of the capbar.

4. A removable self-supporting bearing clip for the cap bar of a spinning machine and the like, which cap bar has at least one lateral projection forming one wall of a bearing cavity against which the journalend of a top roll is adapted to rotate; said bearing clip comprising a planar rectangular top portion positioned on the top surface of the lateral projection, a bearing tab extending at substantially a right angle from one side edge of said planar portion adjacent one end thereof and terminating adjacent the lower edge of the wall of the bearing cavity, a clamping portion depending from the other side edge of said planar portion, and said clamping portion terminat plane adjacent the lower edges of ing in a common plane with the lower end of said bearing tab adjacent the lower side edge of the lateral projection remote from the wall of the bearing cavity and being bent inwardly intermediate its ends toward said bearing tab whereby the proximal surfaces of the hearing tab and the clamping portion will clampingly engage opposite sides of the lateral projection on said cap bar to support the bearing clip in position.

5. A structure according to claim 4 wherein a bearing tab extends at substantially a right angle from one side edge of said planar portion adjacent each end thereof, and; each of said bearing tabs terminating adjacent the lower edge of the wall of the bearing cavity.

6. A removable self-supporting bearing clip for the front end of a cap bar of a spinning machine and the like, which cap bar has at least one lateral projection at the front end thereof forming one wall of a bearing cavity against which the journal end of a top roll is adapted to rotate; said bearing clip comprising a planar rectangular top portion positioned on the upper surface of the lateralprojection, a planar bearing tab depending at substantially right angles from one side edge of said top portion adjacent one. end. thereof and positioned against one surface. of the lateral projection, a first clamping portion depending at a substantially right angle from the other side edge. of said top portion, a second clamping portion depending. ata substantially right angle from the end of the top portion remote from the bearing tab, said first and second. clamping portions and said bearing tab all terminating in a common, horizontal plane adjacent the lower surface of the lateral projection, andsaid first and second clamping portions each being curved inwardly intermediate its ends to engage the proximate surfaces of the. lateral projection to clampingly support said bearing clip.

7. In a spinning machine and the like having cap bars provided with notches. in their side edges in which the journal ends of top rolls are positioned for rotation and said: notches defining at least one lateral projection at the free end: of the cap bar, a removable self-supporting bearing clipv for the cap bar comprising a substantially U-shaped member of relatively thin material and having a planar rectangular top portion and first and second legs wherein the first leg of the U-shaped member is flat and the second leg is curved inwardly intermediate its ends toward the first leg whereby the flat first leg of the U.-shap ed member may be positioned against the. inner surface of the lateral; projection and the second inwardly curved leg may be positioned against the outer surface of the lateral projection, a third leg extending. downwardly from the. planar portion and bent inwardly to engage the side of the cap bar remote from the lateral project-ion, and all of said legs terminating adjacent the lower edge of said lateral projection to clampingly support the bearing clip in position.

References: Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

